16th century

1. For example, Information for Ireland, 1561: Nowe comes the rymer that made the ryme with is Rakry the Rakry is he that shall vtter the Ryme and the Rymer him selfe sittes by with the captin verie proudlye. he bringes with him also his harper who please all the while that the Raker singes the ryme

i.e. Now we see the poet that composed the poem, with his singer. The singer is the person that sings the poem, and the poet himself sits watching with the lord. The poet also has in his retinue his harper, who plays to accompany the singer's performance.

Text from Alan J. Fletcher, "Drama and the Performing Arts in Pre-Cromwellian Ireland: A Repertory of Sources and Documents from the Earliest Times until c.1642", D. S. Brewer, 2000, p. 172

2. John Derricke, The Image of Irelande, London, 1581.

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